PACTS BEING READIED FOR TRUMP-MODI BILATERALIndia and the United States are readying at least five pacts on homeland security, trade facilitation and intellectual property rights ahead of the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in New Delhi on February 25.While the pact on homeland security will tackle counter-terrorism cooperation, the trade facilitation pact will look at providing a single-window system for US firms wanting to do business in India.The two sides will also issue a joint statement, which will put significant emphasis on counter-terrorism, Indo-Pacific, space and nuclear issues.Sources said while 8-10 pacts are under “active consideration”, about half-a-dozen are expected to be signed and announced during Trump’s visit.Both sides have indicated that a major trade agreement seems unlikely.“We have been engaging with the US on trade talks for some time. We hope to reach an understanding with an outcome that strikes the right balance for both sides. We do not want to rush into a deal as the issues involved are complicated, with many decisions potentially having real impact on people’s lives and long-term economic consequences. We do not want to create artificial deadlines,” the Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, said.AMIT SHAH IN ARUNACHAL: ASSURES THAT N-E SPECIAL STATUS WILL STAYHome minister Amit Shah Thursday assured the North-East that Article 371, the Constitutional provision that grants special status to some states, “will never” be abrogated. The provision is aimed at protecting the ethnic and cultural rights of tribals.Speaking in Itanagar Thursday during an event to commemorate the foundation day of Arunachal Pradesh, Shah said: “I want to assure Arunachal Pradesh that it is the duty of our government to protect the rights, traditions and culture of the 27 castes and 120 tribes of the state. In August last year, when Narendra Modi took the decision to abrogate Article 370 in Kashmir, rumours were spread in the North-East that Article 371 would also be removed. On the occasion of the foundation day of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, I want to tell the North-East that no one can remove Article 371, nor does anyone harbour such intentions. Those who want to create differences between India and the North-East through these rumours will never be successful.”Apart from Arunachal, the states in the region covered under the provision include Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Sikkim.China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of south Tibet, objected to Shah’s visit, saying it violated Beijing’s “territorial sovereignty and sabotaged political mutual trust”, prompting India to dismiss the claims. China routinely objects to Indian leaders’ visits to the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh to highlight its claims over it.NOT 70 LAKH, BUT ONE LAKH TO ATTEND TRUMP ROADSHOWNearly one lakh people are expected to line up along the 22-km route of the roadshow of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad on February 24, officials said on Thursday.The number is much less than what the US President has been claiming. In a recent video, Trump said, “Seven million (70 lakh)” people will be there on the roadshow route.Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra on Wednesday said the number of those expected to be present at the roadshow would be “around one lakh”.VOTER IDENTITY CARD SUFFICIENT PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, RULES MUMBAI COURTA Mumbai court earlier this month ruled an election card of voter identification card was sufficient proof of citizenship.Abbas Shaikh (45) and his wife Rabiya Khatoon Shaikh (40) were recently arrested by the city police on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. They were charged with violating Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950 and Foreigners Act, 1946.According to the police, the couple was arrested from the Reay Road neighbourhood after an informer provided information to the authorities that they were Bangladeshi nationals residing “illegally” in India.While Abbas Shaikh produced his Aadhaar card, PAN card, election card, bank passbook, health card and ration card as proof of his Indian nationality, his wife produced her Aadhaar card, PAN card and election card.The magistrate held that an election card or voter ID was sufficient proof of citizenship. “.....while applying for the election card or voting card a person has to file declaration with the authority in view of Form 6 of Peoples Representation Act to the authority that he is citizen of India and if the declaration is found false, he is liable for punishment. To my mind such a declaration is sufficient to prove the citizenship unless contrary is proved by the prosecution...,” the magistrate ruled.While acquitting Abbas Shaikh and his wife Rabiya, the court ruled that the prosecution could not prove that the couple had produced fake documents to claim Indian citizenship.NIRBHAYA CONVICTS: ONE CLAIMS MENTAL ILLNESSIn a fresh twist to the December 16 gangrape and murder case, convict Vinay Sharma has moved the Delhi court seeking medical treatment claiming he is mentally ill – and that he is unable to recognize his mother. Vinay’s lawyer also alleged that he is injured after he reportedly banged his head against the wall.Vinay’s lawyer, AP Singh told the court that when he visited Sharma in the prison on the request of his family members, he found that the convict had sustained grievous head injury, fracture in his right arm with plaster and was suffering from “insanity”, “mental illness” and “schizophrenia”. He also told the court that Vinay has failed to now recognize his own mother and has fractured his arm.The four convicts are scheduled to be hanged on March 3 at 6 am.INDIA RANKS 77TH ON SUSTAINABILITY, 131ST IN CHILD FLOURISHING INDEXIndia ranked 77th on a sustainability index that takes into account per capita carbon emissions and ability of children in a nation to live healthy lives and secured 131st spot on a flourishing ranking that measures the best chance at survival and well-being for children, according to a UN-backed report.The report was released on Wednesday by a commission of over 40 child and adolescent health experts from around the world. It was commissioned by the WHO, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and The Lancet medical journal. In the report assessing the capacity of 180 countries to ensure that their youngsters can survive and thrive, India ranks 77th on the Sustainability Index and 131 on the Flourishing Index, it said.DoT PUSHES TELCOS TO MAKE FULL PAYMENT BEFORE MARCH 17 SC HEARINGThe DoT, which is currently in the process of internally calculating the dues owed by all telcos, will also tally it with the self-assessment reports on AGR submitted by the companies and then call them for clarifications in case of discrepancies, the officials said.As of Thursday, Bharti Airtel had paid Rs 10,000 crore of the over Rs 36,000 crore it owed to the DoT, while Vodafone Idea paid Rs 3,500 crore of the Rs 53,000-crore AGR dues it owed, including Rs 1,000 crore paid on Thursday. The Rs 3,500 crore paid by Vodafone Idea is half of its self-assessed AGR principal.WELLINGTON TEST: INDIA PUT IN TO BAT FIRST; RAIN DELAYS PLAY AT 122/5New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bowl, the first of two Tests, that began in Wellington Friday morning.In the first session, Kiwi debutant Kyle Jamieson had got the prized wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara (11) and Virat Kohli (2). Pujara edged an inswinger to keeper. Kohli edged it to Ross at second slip. Earlier, opener Prithvi Shaw’s (16) troubles with off-and-middle stumps continued once again as he was cleaned up by Tim Southee early on.Test. Ajinkya Rahane has been going strong despite wickets tumbling at the other end. Tim Southee got rid of India opener Mayank Agarwal (34) after Lunch. The right-hander was going strong before he skied a delivery straying outside leg stump to Kyle Jamieson in the deep. The debutant then got the wicket of Hanuma Vihari (7) to leave India 5 down.Thunderstorm and steady rains in Basin Reserve, Wellington have currently delayed the start of play after Tea.Score at Tea, after 55 overs: India 122/5INDICATORSSensex 41,170 (-153), Nifty 12,081 (-45), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores) 43,923Nasdaq 9,751 (-66) Dow 29,220 (-128), S&P 3373 (-13)US$-Rs. 71.68 GBP-Rs. 92.39, Euro-Rs. 77.38, UAE Dhm-Rs.19.51, Can$-Rs. 54.10, Aus$- Rs. 47.53GBP 0.77 /US$, Euro 0.92 /US$, Jap.Yen 111.78 /US$, Aus$ 1.50 /US$, Sing 1.39 /US$, Bang Taka 83.28 /US$, Can$ 1.32 /US$, Mal Ring 4.18 /US$,Pak Re 153.65 /US$, Phil Peso 50.68 /US$, Russian Rouble 63.85 /US$, NZ$ 1.57 /US$, Thai Baht 31.36 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 24.22 /US$, Norway NOK 9.30 /US$Bitcoin - USD 9.586Dollar Index 99.74 Brent Crude 59.10 BDI 465Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,621 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4135 / 4035, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 52,100THOUGHT FOR THE DAYThe weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. - Mahatma GandhiOFF TRACKArriving home from work as usual at 5:30 p.m., the man discovered that it had not been one of his wife's better days. Nothing he said or did seemed to be right.By 7 p.m. things had not changed, so before a fight started in earnest he suggested he go outside, pretend he had just gotten home, and start all over again. His wife agreed.He went outside, came back in and, with a big smile, announced, "Honey, I'm home!""And just where have you been?" she replied sharply. "It's after seven o'clock!"